Support cushion cover assemblies for removing heat and humidity

ABSTRACT

A support cushion cover assembly for removing humidity and heat from a contact surface of a support cushion is provided. The support cushion cover assembly comprises a support cushion cover that includes an upper panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacer layer positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface. The support cushion cover further includes an amount of hygroscopic material and at least one flexible tube that defines a plurality of fenestrations. Each fenestration is in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer of the upper panel. An air pump is further included in the cover assembly and is operably connected to the flexible tube, such that an amount of air is delivered into the flexible tube and the middle spacer layer of the cover. Methods for removing humidity from a contact surface of a support cushion are also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a support cushion cover assembly and,more particularly, to a support cushion cover assembly that makes use ofan amount of hygroscopic material and an air pump to remove heat andhumidity at the contact surface of a support cushion.

BACKGROUND

As is generally the case with support cushions and, in particular, withsupport cushions comprised of flexible foam or other body-conformingmaterials, the effectiveness of the support cushion in providing supportto the body of a user is partly a function of how well the flexible foamresponds to the contour of the particular user resting on the cushion.In this regard, support cushions made from temperature-sensitivevisco-elastic foam are often particularly desirable as such supportcushions are able to, change shape based, at least in part, upon thetemperature of the supported body part. That conformance of the cushionto the body of a user, however, often causes more of the user's body tohe in contact with the body support cushion, and thus, less of the bodyof the user is exposed to the ambient air around the cushion. Thereduction in the amount of the body of the user exposed to ambient air,in turn, causes many users to find support cushions comprised ofvisco-elastic foam to “sleep hot” and, occasionally, such users willchoose other types of support cushions, notwithstanding the supportivebenefits associated with visco-elastic foam and similar types ofbody-conforming materials.

In an effort to remedy users' concerns of “sleeping hot” as a result ofthe body-confirming qualities of their support cushions, many supportcushion manufacturers have incorporated so-called “cooling” technologiesinto their products. For example, many support cushions now incorporatelatent heat storage units, such as phase change material, that absorbheat and provide a cooling sensation when in contact with the body of auser. Support cushions that include phase change material, however,often fail to account for the humidity that is also present at thecontact surface of a support cushion as a result of the body-conformingqualities of the support cushion. In these situations, and despite theinclusion of phase change material in some support cushions, thehumidity acts to trap heat in the microclimate zone adjacent to thecontact surface of the support cushion (e.g., underneath the sheet butabove the mattress cover surrounding a mattress), and thus, reduces thesleep comfort of a user lying on the support cushion.

SUMMARY

The present invention includes a support cushion cover assembly and,more particularly, a support cushion cover assembly that makes use of anamount of hygroscopic material and an air pump to remove heat andhumidity at the contact surface of a support cushion.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a support cushioncover assembly includes a support cushion cover having an upper panel, abottom panel, and a continuous side panel that collectively define acavity for enclosing a support cushion. The upper panel of the supportcushion cover includes an amount of hygroscopic material and generallyhas a tap surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacer layer that ispositioned between the top surface and the bottom surface of the upperpanel. The support cushion cover further includes a flexible tube thatextends along a length of the upper panel and defines a plurality offenestrations, with each fenestration spaced at a predetermined distancefrom each adjacent fenestration and in fluid communication with themiddle spacer layer of the upper panel. In this regard, the supportcushion cover assembly also includes an air pump that is operablyconnected to the flexible tube and is thus configured to deliver anamount of air into the flexible tube, through the plurality offenestrations, and into the middle spacer layer of the upper panel.

The upper panel of the support cushion cover assembly generally has athickness of about 5 mm to about 50 mm and can be characterized asincluding a first side edge, a second side edge, a head end, and a footend. The foot end of the upper panel includes a release vent forreleasing air from the middle spacer layer of the upper panel, while thehead end of the upper panel is typically sealed, such that any airentering the middle space layer of the upper panel through thefenestrations in the flexible tube travels throughout the middle spacerlayer before exiting the release vent at the foot end of the upperpanel. In some embodiments, to further release air from the middlespacer layer, the top surface of the upper panel also defines aplurality of openings. For example, in certain embodiments, the topsurface of the upper layer defines a plurality of openings in the topsurface with a central region of the openings having a diameter greaterthan a diameter of the remainder of the openings to provide increasedhumidity and heat removal in an area of the support cushion cover thatwould be in contact with the torso of a user lying in a supine or proneposition.

To facilitate the removal of heat and humidity from the upper panel ofthe support cushion assembly, the support cushion cover assembly mayinclude two flexible tubes, a first flexible tube that extends along alength of the first side edge of the upper panel and a second flexibletube that extends along a length of the second side edge of the upperpanel. In this regard, the first flexible tube and the second flexibletube are thus positioned and, configured to deliver an amount of airevenly through the fenestrations in the flexible tubes and into themiddle spacer layer adjacent to both the first side edge and the secondside edge of the upper panel. In some embodiments, to further facilitatethe flow of air into the middle spacer layer, a first portion offenestrations defined by a central portion of the flexible tubes has adiameter that is, greater than a diameter of a second portion offenestrations defined by an upper portion and a lower portion of theflexible tubes, so as to deliver more air to the area of the middlespacer layer that would be adjacent to the torso of a user lying in asupine or prone position on the support cushion cover.

To deliver a sufficient amount of air into both the first flexible tubeand the second flexible tube of the support cushion cover assembly ofthe present invention, the air pump of an exemplary support cushioncover assembly is generally in the form of a first air pump that isconnected to the first flexible tube and a second air pump that isconnected to the second flexible tube. In some embodiments, the firstair pump and the second air pump can be independently controlled tothereby provide a greater amount of control over the air that is beingsupplied to a particular flexible tube and, consequently, to the middlespacer layer on a particular side of the support cushion cover assembly.

Regardless of whether an exemplary support cushion assembly includessingle or multiple air pumps, each support cushion cover assembly alsotypically includes a controller for controlling the air supplied to theflexible tubes and the middle spacer layer. By including a controller inthe support cushion cover assemblies, the amount of air being suppliedto the flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer, or the amount of timethat air is supplied to the flexible tubes and middle spacer layer, canbe controlled to provide a desired amount of heat and humidily removalat the contact surface of a support cushion. For instance, in certainembodiments, the controller is configured to allow air to be supplied tothe flexible tubes and the middle spacer layer for a predeterminedamount of time, such as for an 8-hour sleeping period or for a length oftime that corresponds to the time a user usually spends in a specificstage of the sleep cycle (e.g., REM sleep).

To provide an additional level of control over the removal of heat andhumidity from the contact surface of a support cushion, in someembodiments, the support cushion cover assembly further includes one ormore features that are operably connected to the upper panel of thesupport cushion cover assembly and provide input to the controller. Suchfeatures include, in some embodiments, humidity sensors that providemoisture feedback to the controller and allow the controller to, via theair pump, automatically begin providing air to the flexible tubes andthe middle spacer layer when the moisture level in or adjacent to theupper panel reaches a particular level. In some embodiments, pressuresensors are included in an exemplary support cushion cover assembly andprovide pressure feedback to the controller to allow the controller to,via the air pump, automatically begin providing air to the flexibletubes and the middle spacer layer when a user lies on the supportcushion cover or otherwise places an amount of pressure on the supportcushion cover. In yet other embodiments, temperature sensors areincluded in an exemplary support cushion cover assembly and providetemperature feedback to the controller to allow the controller toselectively provide air to the flexible tubes and the middle spacerlayer in response to received temperature feedback and to maintain adesired temperature. Such desired humidity, pressure, or temperaturefeedback settings are, in certain embodiments, directly inputted oradjusted at the controller itself or, in other embodiments, can betransmitted to the controller from a remote control that is alsooperably connected to the controller and allows a user to remotelyadjust the first surface of the body supporting portion to a desiredtemperature.

With further regard to the support cushion cover assemblies of thepresent invention, an exemplary support cushion cover assembly can, alsobe used as part of a method for removing the humidity from a contactsurface of a support cushion. In some implementations, a method forremoving the humidity from a contact surface of a support cushionincludes first providing a support cushion cover that includes: an upperpanel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacer layerpositioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, with theupper panel defining one or more openings in the upper panel and theupper panel also including an amount of hygroscopic material forabsorbing humidity present at a contact surface of the support cushion;and at least one flexible tube that extends along a length of the upperpanel and defines a plurality of fenestrations, with each fenestrationbeing in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer of the upperpanel. An amount of air is then delivered into the flexible tube and themiddle spacer layer of the support cushion cover assembly, such that theair flows into the middle spacer layer and through the openings tothereby remove the humidity absorbed by the hygroscopic material and,consequently, the heat and humidity at or adjacent to the contactsurface of the support cushion.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will becomeevident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of thedescription, figures, and non-limiting examples in this document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an exemplary support cushion coverassembly, in the form of a mattress cover assembly, made in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary mattress coverassembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another exemplary support cushion coverassembly, in the form of a mattress cover assembly, made in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another exemplary support cushioncover assembly, in the form of a mattress cover assembly made inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is aside view of another exemplary support cushion cover assemblyfor use in a chair and made in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 6 is partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary support cushioncover assembly of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention includes a support cushion cover assembly and,more particularly, a support cushion cover assembly that makes use of anamount of hygroscopic material and an air pump to remove heat andhumidity from the contact surface of a support cushion.

Referring first to HOS. 1-2, in one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, a support cushion cover assembly is in the form of a mattresscover assembly 10 that includes a support cushion cover in the form of amattress cover 11. The mattress cover 11 has an upper panel 14, a bottompanel 16, and a continuous side panel 18 that collectively define acavity for enclosing a mattress 12. The upper panel 14 of the mattresscover 11 has a top surface 22, a bottom surface 24, and a middle spacerlayer 26 that is positioned between the top surface 22 and the bottomsurface 24. The upper panel 14 further includes an amount of hygroscopicmaterial 29 that is incorporated into the upper panel 14 such that anyhumidity on or adjacent to the upper panel 14 is absorbed by thehygroscopic material 29, as described in further detail below.

With further respect to the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 11, theupper panel generally can be characterized as including a first sideedge 32, a second side edge 34, a head end 36, and a foot end 38. Theupper panel 14 of the mattress cover 11 is dimensionally-sized to coverthe mattress 12 and generally has a thickness of about 5 mm to about 50mm, such that the upper panel 14 has a thickness sufficient toincorporate a desired amount of hygroscopic material and to allow asufficient amount of air to move through the middle spacer layer 26. Inthis exemplary embodiments, the upper panel 14 also includes a pair ofrelease vents 28 a, 28 b at the foot end 38 of the upper panel 14. Eachof the release vents 28 a, 28 b is in fluid communication with and isconfigured to release air from the middle spacer layer 26 of the upperpanel 14. The head end 36 of the upper panel 14, on other hand, issealed, such that any air entering the middle space layer 26 of theupper panel 14 travels throughout the middle spacer layer 26 beforeexiting the release vents 28 a, 28 b at the foot end 38 of the upperpanel 14.

To facilitate the flow of air through the middle spacer layer 26 and theremoval of heat and humidity from the upper panel 14, the mattress cover11 further includes a first flexible tube 40 a that includes a pluralityof fenestrations 42 a and extends along the length of the first sideedge 32, and a second flexible tube 40 b that includes a plurality offenestrations 42 b and extends along a length of the second side edge34. Each of the fenestrations 42 a, 42 b has an equal diameter and isspaced at a predetermined distance from each adjacent fenestration 42 a,42 b. Further, each of the fenestrations 42 a, 42 b is in fluidcommunication with the middle spacer layer 26 of the upper panel 20 ofthe mattress cover 11. In this regard, the first flexible tube 40 a andthe second flexible tube 40 b, along with the plurality of fenestrations42 a, 42 b in the flexible tubes 40 a, 40 b. are thus positioned andconfigured to deliver an amount of air evenly through the fenestrations42 a, 42 b in the flexible tubes 40 a, 40 b and into the middle spacerlayer 26 adjacent to both the first side edge 32 and the second sideedge 34 of the upper panel 14.

To deliver air into the first flexible tube 40 a and the second flexibletube 40 b, through the plurality of fenestrations 42 a, 42 b, and intothe middle spacer layer 26. the mattress cover assembly 10 furtherincludes a first air pump 60 a that is operably connected to the firstflexible tube 40 a and a second air pump 60 b that is operably connectedto second flexible tube 40 b. Both the first air pump 60 a and thesecond air pump 60 b are connected to discrete controllers 70 a, 70 bthat are configured to control the amount of air supplied by the airpumps 60 a, 60 b. By including a controller 70 a that is only connectedto the first air pump 60 a and a controller 70 b that is only connectedto the second air pump 60 b, the first air pump 60 a and the second airpump 60 b can be independently controlled to allow a desired amount ofair to be supplied to the first flexible tube 40 a, to the plurality offenestrations 42 a, and into the middle spacer layer 26 adjacent to thefirst side edge 32 of the upper panel 14, while the same or a differentamount of air is supplied to the second flexible tube 40 b, to theplurality of fenestrations 42 b, and into the middle spacer layer 26adjacent to the second side edge 34 of the upper panel 14. For example,in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first air pump60 a and the second air pump 60 b are individually controlled, such thatit is possible to provide an increased amount of air to a user lyingadjacent to the first side edge 32 of the upper panel 14 of the mattresscover 11 and who is prone to excessive heating, while a decreased amountof air is provided to a user lying adjacent to the second side edge 34of the upper panel 14 of the mattress cover 11 and who is not prone toexcessive heating. Of course, various other arrangements of air pumpsand controllers, including the use of a single air pump having one ormore diverters for directing an amount of air to a particular location,are also contemplated for use in accordance with the present inventionand can be readily connected to an exemplary mattress cover withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the subject matter describedherein. Additionally, it is contemplated that the term “air pump” is notlimited to closed containers capable of propelling air, but is furtherinclusive of fans, blowers, and the like that are each capable directingan amount of air into a tube.

Turning now to the hygroscopic material 29 included in the upper panel14 of the mattress cover 11, the hygroscopic material 29 is generallyincorporated into both the top surface 22 and the middle spacer layer 26such that the hygroscopic material 29 is positioned and configured toplace the body of a user, or a portion thereof, resting on the mattresscover 11 in close proximity to the hygroscopic material 29. In thisregard, as such a user generates heat and humidity (e.g., humidity inthe form of perspiration) during sleep, the hygroscopic material 29 iseffectively positioned to absorb any such humidity as it is generated,and is thus configured to reduce the amount of humidity at or adjacentto the contact surface (i.e., the upper surface) of the mattress 12.

The hygroscopic material 29 that is incorporated into the upper panel 14is generally in the form of encapsulated hygroscopic material that hasan increased capability of absorbing humidity and moisture from thesurrounding environment relative to the other material included in themattress cover 11. As the hygroscopic material 29 absorbs moisture fromthe surrounding environment, the hygroscopic material 29 thuscontinually absorbs humidity and any associated heat generated by theuser. As air is pumped through the flexible tubes 40 a, 40 b and theplurality of fenestrations 42 a, 42 b, and into the middle spacer layer26, the air moving inside the middle spacer layer 26 is then able toremove the absorbed moisture from the hygroscopic material 29 andrelease it through the vents 28 a, 28 b while, at the same time,providing a cooling effect to the user lying on the mattress cover IIand allowing the hygroscopic material 29 to continue to absorb moisturefrom the surrounding environment.

As a refinement to the heat and humidity removal capabilities of thesupport cushion cover assemblies of the present invention and referringnow to FIG. 3, in another exemplary embodiment, a mattress coverassembly 110 is provided that, like the mattress cover assembly 10 shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a mattress cover 111 having an upper panel114 with a top surface 122, a bottom surface 124, and a middle spacerlayer 126 that is positioned between the top surface 122 and the bottomsurface 124. The upper panel 114 also includes an amount of hygroscopicmaterial 129 that is incorporated into the upper panel 114, as well as apair of release vents 128 a, 128 b that are in fluid communication withand are configured to release air from the middle spacer layer 126 ofthe upper panel 114. The mattress cover 111 also includes a firstflexible tube 140 a that includes a plurality of fenestrations 142 a,146 a and a second flexible tube 140 b that includes a plurality offenestrations 142 b, 146 b. The first flexible tube 140 a is attached toa first air pump 160 a and a controller 170 a. and the second flexibletube 140 b is attached to a second air pump 160 b and a controller 170b.

Unlike the fenestrations 42 a, 42 b in the flexible tubes 40 a, 40 bshown in FIGS. 1-2, however, each of the fenestrations 142 a, 142 b, 146a, 146 b in the flexible tubes 140 a, 140 b shown in FIG. 3 do not haveequal diameters. Rather, in the mattress cover assembly 110 shown inFIG. 3, the flexible tubes 140 a, 140 b each include a central portion144 a, 144 b that defines a first portion of fenestrations 142 a, 142 bhaving a diameter that is greater than a diameter of a second portion offenestrations 146 a, 146 b defined by an upper portion 148 a, 148 b anda lower portion 149 a, 149 b of each flexible tube 140 a, 140 b. In thisregard, the flexible tubes 140 a, 140 b are thus configured such thatwhen is air is delivered to the flexible tubes 140 a, 140 b, a greateramount of air is released from the first portion of fenestrations 142 a,142 b and is delivered to the portion of the middle spacer layer 126that would be adjacent to the torso of a user lying in a supine or proneposition on the mattress cover 111 and that would likely be exposed toexcess heat and humidity. in other words, by providing the first portionof fenestrations 142 a, 142 b with a greater diameter than the secondportion of fenestrations 146 a, 146 b, and delivering a greater amountof air to the portion of the middle spacer layer 126 that would beadjacent to the torso of a user, the upper panel 114 of the mattresscover 111 is configured to remove the heat and humidity from thelocation on the upper panel 114 where an excess amount heat and humidityis most likely to be found.

To provide an even further level of control over the removal of heat andhumidity from the upper panel 114 of the mattress cover 111, themattress cover assembly 110 further includes additional features thatare operably connected to the upper panel 114 of the mattress cover 111and provide input to the controllers 170 a, 170 b. In particular, andreferring still to FIG. 3, the upper panel 114 of the mattress cover 111includes a pair of humidity sensors 192 a, 192 b that independentlyprovide moisture feedback to the controllers 170 a, 170 b on theirrespective sides of the upper panel 114 and allow the controllers 170 a,170 b to, via the air pumps 160 a, 160 b, automatically begin providingair to the flexible tubes 140 a, 140 b and the middle spacer layer 126when the moisture level at or adjacent to the upper panel 114 reaches aparticular level. As also shown in FIG. 3, pressure sensors 196 a, 196 bare further included in the mattress cover assembly 110 and, morespecifically, in the upper panel 114 of the mattress cover 111 toprovide pressure feedback to the controllers 170 a, 170 b and allow thecontrollers 170 a, 170 b to, via the air pumps 160 a, 160 b,automatically begin providing air to the flexible tubes 140 a, 140 b andthe middle spacer layer 126 when a user lies on the mattress cover 111or otherwise places an amount of pressure on the mattress cover 111.Temperature sensors 194 a, 194 b are additionally included in upperpanel 114 of the mattress cover 111 and provide temperature feedback tothe controllers 170 a, 170 b to allow the controllers 170 a, 170 b tocause the air pumps 160 a, 160 b to selectively provide air to theflexible tubes 140 a, 140 b and the middle spacer layer 126 in responseto received temperature feedback and to maintain a desired temperature,Such desired humidity, pressure, or temperature feedback settings can bedirectly inputted or adjusted at the controllers 170 a, 170 b or can betransmitted to the controllers 170 a, 170 b from a remote control thatis also operably connected to the controller and allows a user toremotely adjust the sensors to a desired setting.

As an even further refinement to the heat and humidity removalcapabilities of the support cushion over assemblies of the presentinvention and referring now to FIG. 4, in yet another exemplaryembodiment, a mattress cover assembly 210 is provided that, like themattress cover assemblies 10, 110 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in FIG. 3,includes a mattress cover 211 having an upper panel 214 with a topsurface 222, a bottom surface 224, and a middle spacer layer 226 that ispositioned between the top surface 222 and the bottom surface 224 of theupper panel 214 of the mattress cover 211. The upper panel 214 alsoincludes an amount of hygroscopic material 229 that is incorporated intothe upper panel 214. The mattress cover assembly 210 further includes afirst flexible tube 240 a that includes a plurality of fenestrations 242a and a second flexible tube 240 b that includes a plurality offenestrations 242 b, with the first flexible tube 240 a attached to afirst air pump 260 a and a controller 270 a and the second flexible tube240 b attached to a second air pump 260 b and a controller 270 b.

Unlike the mattress cover assemblies 10, 110 shown in FIGS. 1-3,however, to release air from the middle spacer layer 226 of the upperpanel 214 of the mattress cover 211, the mattress cover not onlyincludes a pair of release vents 228 a, 228 b that are in fluidcommunication with the middle spacer layer 226 of the upper panel 214,but the top surface 222 of the upper panel 214 also defines openings223, 225 in the upper panel 214 to release an additional amount of airfrom the middle spacer layer 226 and, consequently, remove additionalheat and humidity. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the top surface222 of the upper panel defines a central region of openings 223 having adiameter great than the remainder of openings 225 defined by the topsurface 222 to thereby provide increased humidity and heat removal inthe area of the upper panel 214 of the mattress cover 211 that would bein contact with the torso of a user lying in a supine or prone positionand which would be exposed to excess heat and humidity. In this regard,it is contemplated that other configurations and arrangements ofopenings can be selected and incorporated into an exemplary mattresscover assembly of the present invention as desired or as needed for aparticular support cushion or application without departing from thespirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.

Referring still to FIG. 4, to provide a mattress cover 211 that issufficiently “breathable” and allows air, heat, and moisture to travelthrough the mattress cover 211 to the hygroscopic material 229, but yetis also is sufficiently soft and durable and able to provide anincreased cooling sensation to a user lying on the mattress cover 211,the mattress cover 211 is comprised of a textile that incorporates phasechange material 227 into the upper panel 214. The phase change material227 that is incorporated into the upper panel 214 of the mattress coveris typically comprised of microspheres that include substances having ahigh heat of fusion and that store or release heat as the substancesoscillate between solid and liquid form (i.e., phase change materials).As the phase change material 227 included in the upper panel 214 changesfrom solid to liquid form (i.e., melts) as the result of heat generatedby a user lying on the mattress cover 211, the phase change material 227thus continually absorbs heat and provides a cooling effect to the user,which is in addition to the cooling effect of the hygroscopic material229 and the flow of air through the upper panel 214, until all of thephase change material 227 has been transformed from a solid to a liquidform. Of course, it is contemplated that phase change material need notbe included in an exemplary cover assembly at all, but that numerousother textiles, including silk and textiles having varying percentagesof cotton that are sufficiently breathable and capable of providing acooling sensation can also be readily used in any of the coverassemblies described herein and can be selected for a particular coverassembly or a particular application or type of mattress as desired.

In addition to using a textile to provide a sufficiently breathable anddurable surface, the exemplary cover assembly 210 also typicallyincorporates one or more flame-retardant materials into the mattresscover 211. By incorporating a flame-retardant material (e.g., a firesock) into the mattress cover 211, the mattress cover assembly 210 thusprovides a flame-retardant barrier that completely surrounds anunderlying mattress, such as the visco-elastic foam mattresses describedherein below.

As yet another refinement to the present invention, although the supportcushion covers shown in FIGS. 1-4 are in the form of mattress covers 11,111, 211 and are dimensionally sized to cover a mattress, it iscontemplated that the features described herein are equally applicableto seat cushions, seat backs, neck pillows, leg spacer pillows mattresstoppers, overlays, and the like. As such, the phrase “support cushion”is used herein to refer to any and all such objects having any size andshape, and that are capable of or are generally used to support the bodyof a user or a portion thereof. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,support cushion cover assemblies made in accordance with the presentinvention are incorporated into the back 313 and seat 312 of a deskchair 310. Each support cushion cover assembly of the desk chair 310includes a support cushion cover 311 having an upper panel 314 with atop surface 322, a bottom surface 324, and a middle spacer layer 326that is positioned between the top surface 322 and the bottom surface324. The upper panel 314 also includes an amount of hygroscopic material329 and, through the middle spacer layer 326, is in fluid communicationwith flexible tubes 340 that are attached to an air pump 360 and acontroller 370 to thereby provide for the removal of heat and humidityfrom the seat 312 and back 313 of the desk chair 310.

With respect to the flexible foams used in the mattresses and supportcushions that are covered by the cover assemblies of the presentinvention, the mattresses and support cushions are generally comprisedof a flexible foam that has a low resilience as well as a sufficientdensity and hardness, which allows pressure to be absorbed uniformly anddistributed evenly across the various mattresses and other supportcushions. Such flexible foams include, but are not limited to: latexfoam; reticulated or non-reticulated visco-elastic foam (sometimesreferred to as memory foam or low-resilience foam): reticulated ornon-reticulated non-visco-elastic foam; high-resilience polyurethanefoam; expanded polymer foams (e.g., expanded ethylene vinyl acetate,polypropylene, polystyrene, or polyethylene); and the like.

With respect to the hardness of the visco-elastic foams used in certainof the mattresses and flexible foam layers, suitable visco-elastic foamstypically have a hardness of at least about 10 N to no greater thanabout 80 N as measured by exerting pressure from a plate against asample of the material to a compression of at least 40% of an originalthickness of the material at approximately room temperature (i.e., 21°C. to 23° C.), where the 40% compression is held for a set period oftime as established by the International Organization of Standardization(ISO) 2439 hardness measuring standard. In some embodiments, thevisco-elastic foam can have a hardness of about 10 N, about 20 N, about30 N, about 40 N, about 50 N, about 60 N, about 70 N, car about 80 N toprovide a desired degree of comfort and body-conforming qualities.

With respect to the density of the visco-elastic foams used in certainof the mattresses and flexible foam layers, suitable visco-elastic foamshave a density that also assists in providing a desired degree ofcomfort and body-conforming qualities, as well as an increased degree ofmaterial durability. In some embodiments, the density of theisco-elastic foam used in the mattresses and flexible foam layers is noless than about 30 kg/m³ to no greater than about 150 kg/m³. In someembodiments, the density of the visco-elastic foam that is used is about30 kg/m³, about 40 kg/m³, about 50 kg/m³, about 60 kg/m³, about 70kg/m³, about 80 kg/m³, about 90 kg/m³, about 100 kg/m³, about 110 kg/m³,about 120 kg/m³, about 130 kg/m³, about 140 kg/m³, or about 150 kg/m³.Of course, the selection of a visco-elastic foam having a particulardensity will affect other characteristics of the foam, including itshardness, the manner in which the foam responds to pressure, and theoverall feel of the foam, but it should be appreciated that avisco-elastic foam having a desired density and hardness can readily beselected for a particular application or assembly as desired.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that the visco-elastic foam usedin the mattresses and other support cushions described for use with thecover assemblies of the present invention need not be comprised of asingle piece of visco-elastic foam, but can be comprised of multiplelayers of visco-elastic foam with the layers having different densitiesand hardnesses. For example, in some embodiments, a visco-elastic foammattress can be utilized that includes a lower supporting layer ofvisco-elastic foam with a density of about 80 kg/m³ and a hardness ofabout 13 N, and an upper comfort layer of visco-elastic foam with adensity of about 35 kg/m³ and a hardness of about 10 N.

With further regard to the support cushion cover assemblies of thepresent invention. an exemplary support cushion cover assembly can alsobe used as part of a method for removing the humidity from a contactsurface of a support cushion or, in other words. from the surface of asupport cushion that is contacted by the body of a user, or a portionthereof. In some implementations, a method for removing the humidityfrom a contact surface of a support cushion includes first providing asupport cushion cover assembly that includes: an upper panel having atop surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacer layer that positionedbetween the top surface and the bottom surface, with the upper paneldefining one or more openings in the upper panel and the upper panelalso including an amount of hygroscopic material for absorbing humiditypresent at a contact surface of the support cushion; and at least oneflexible tube that extends along a length of the upper panel and definesa plurality of fenestrations, with each fenestration being in fluidcommunication with the middle spacer layer of the upper panel. An amountof air is then delivered into the flexible tube and the middle spacerlayer of the support cushion cover assembly, such that the air flowsinto the middle spacer layer and through the openings to thereby removethe humidity absorbed by the hygroscopic material and, consequently, thehumidity at the contact surface of the support cushion.

The references set forth in the following list are incorporated hereinby reference.

REFERENCES

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One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additionalembodiments or implementations are possible without departing from theteachings of the present invention or the scope of the claims whichfollow. This detailed description, and particularly the specific detailsof the exemplary embodiments and implementations disclosed herein, isgiven primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessarylimitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications willbecome obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosureand may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of theclaimed invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support cushion cover assembly, comprising: asupport cushion cover including an upper panel having a top surface, abottom surface, and a middle spacer layer positioned between the topsurface and the bottom surface, the upper panel including an amount ofhygroscopic material, and at least flexible tube extending along alength of the upper panel and defining, a plurality of fenestrations,each fenestration spaced at a predetermined distance from each adjacentfenestration, and each fenestration in fluid communication with themiddle spacer layer of the upper panel; and an air pump operablyconnected to the flexible tube, the air pump configured to deliver anamount of air into the flexible tube, through the fenestrations, andinto the middle spacer layer.
 2. The support cushion cover assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the upper panel of the support cushion cover can becharacterized as including a first side edge, a second side edge, a headend, and a foot end.
 3. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 2,wherein the foot end includes one or more release vents for releasingair from the middle spacer layer of the upper panel.
 4. The supportcushion cover assembly of claim 2, wherein the support cushion coverincludes a first flexible tube extending along a length of the firstside edge, and a second flexible tube extending along a length of thesecond side edge.
 5. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 4,wherein the air pump comprises a first air pump operably connected tothe first flexible tube and a second air pump operably connected to thesecond flexible tube.
 6. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 5,wherein the first air pump and the second air pump are independentlycontrolled.
 7. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of fenestrations includes a first portion of fenestrationsdefined by a central portion of the flexible tube and a second portionof fenestrations defined by an upper portion and a lower portion of theflexible tube, and wherein the first portion of fenestrations has adiameter greater than a diameter of the second portion of fenestrations.8. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the topsurface of the upper panel defines a plurality of openings for releasingair from the middle spacer layer.
 9. The support cushion cover assemblyof claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings includes a central regionof openings having a diameter greater than a diameter of the remainderof the openings.
 10. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 1,further comprising a controller for controlling an amount of airsupplied to the flexible tube, through the fenestrations, and into themiddle spacer layer.
 11. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 10.wherein the controller is configured to allow air to be supplied to theflexible tube and the middle spacer layer for a predetermined amount oftime.
 12. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 10, furthercomprising a humidity sensor for providing moisture feedback to thecontroller.
 13. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 10, furthercomprising a temperature sensor for providing thermal feedback to thecontroller.
 14. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 10, furthercomprising a pressure sensor for providing pressure feedback to thecontroller.
 15. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 1, whereinthe support cushion cover is comprised of a flame-retardant material.16. The support cushion cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the upperpanel further includes an amount of phase change material.
 17. Thesupport cushion cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the support cushioncover further comprises a bottom panel and a continuous side panel, suchthat the upper panel, the bottom panel, and the continuous side panelcollectively define a cavity for enclosing a mattress.
 18. The supportcushion cover assembly of claim
 1. wherein the upper panel has athickness of about 5 mm to about 50 mm.
 19. A support cushion cover,comprising: an upper panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and amiddle spacer layer positioned between the top surface and the bottomsurface, the upper panel including an amount of hygroscopic material,and at least one flexible tube extending along a length of the upperpanel and defining a plurality of fenestrations, each fenestrationspaced at a predetermined distance from each adjacent fenestration, andeach fenestration in fluid communication with the middle spacer layer ofthe upper panel such that the flexible tube is configured to deliver anamount of air into the middle spacer layer.
 10. A mattress assembly,comprising: a flexible foam mattress; a mattress cover including anupper panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacerlayer positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, theupper panel including an amount of hygroscopic material, and at leastone flexible tube extending along a length of the upper panel anddefining a plurality of fenestrations, each fenestration in fluidcommunication with the middle spacer layer of the upper panel; and anair pump operably connected to the flexible tube, the air pumpconfigured to deliver an amount of air into the flexible tube and themiddle spacer layer of the mattress cover.
 21. The mattress assembly ofclaim 20, wherein the flexible foam is a visas-elastic foam.
 22. Amethod for removing humidity from a contact surface of a supportcushion, comprising: providing a support cushion cover including anupper panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a middle spacerlayer positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, theupper panel defining one or more openings in the upper panel, and theupper panel including an amount of hygroscopic material, and at leastone flexible tube extending along a length of the upper panel anddefining a plurality of fenestrations, each fenestration in fluidcommunication with the middle spacer layer of the upper panel; anddelivering an amount of air into the flexible tube and the middle spacerlayer of the support cushion cover.